1

Planning Stress & DIY Self-Care

CATEGORIES 

April 22, 2020
Words by Kinsley Brown
Photos courtesy of Canva

Let’s face it, planning a destination wedding is no easy task, and being sheltered at home only makes you feel trapped with your own stress. Before letting the weight of stress overwhelm you, try creating a little spa time for yourself with these simple suggestions by the luxurious spas of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

These facial treatments each require just two ingredients, but the results will make you feel like you spent a day at the spa.

Tomato Face Mask
By: Garcia Alcorta, Spa Manager, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavis Marbella Resort, Spain

Use this brightening mask to breathe life back into dull and lifeless skin and reduce the appearance of blemishes. Tomato helps brighten skin tone, cools and freshens skin, while honey has beneficial moisturizing properties.

Ingredients:
• ½ ripe tomato
• 1 Tbsp honey

Blend tomato with honey until it becomes a paste. Gently apply the paste to face avoiding the eye area and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water and pat skin dry with a clean towel.

Cooling Cucumber & Yogurt Face Mask
By: Lucia McMallion, Director of Spa & Recreation, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, Thailand

The combination of cucumber and yogurt has a soothing effect on skin. The natural ingredients in cucumber moisturize, soften, smooth, and reduce puffiness, while yogurt is refreshing for tired skin.

Ingredients:
• Half a cucumber, grated
• Three Tbsp. of plain natural yogurt

Whip up a quick mask by combining yogurt and grated cucumber. Apply to face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes; and wash it off using cool water. Use this mask at least three times a week for fresh-faced results.

Eye DePuffer
By: Kanatcha Buntongkaew, Spa Manager, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Thailand

A soothing and easy treat for the eyes. Parsley has active properties that help to diminish dark circles under the eyes and reduce puffiness. The frozen ice cube rubbed under the eyes also works to reduce the puffiness.

Ingredients
• Distilled Water
• Chopped parsley

Fill an ice cube tray with fresh water and add a pinch of parsley to each cube. Place in the freezer. Rub frozen cubes gently under the eyes to get rid of under-eye bags and fine lines around the eyes.

Coffee and Honey Face Scrub
By: Anantara Spa Director and Wellness Guru, Galina Antoniuk, Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort

Don’t throw away your coffee after you’ve ground it for your morning brew. Coffee is rich in anti-aging properties and honey keeps your skin moisturized.

Ingredients
• 1 Tbsp. coffee grounds
• 3 Tbsp. honey

Take a spoonful of the powder and mix it with honey. The sticky cream-like texture makes for a good scrub as well as a face wash. If you have dry skin, you can also add a few drops of coconut oil to the mix. If using as a scrub, keep on for 15 minutes before washing off.

Luscious Lips
By: Vina Teodoro, Spa Manager, Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Portugal

Quite often lips are overlooked and only tended to in cold dry weather when they become cracked and chapped. A lip scrub is a great way exfoliate and buff away dry skin. Make sure to hydrate with a next-level moisturizer to keep those lips luscious!

Ingredients:
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 2 Tbsp honey (one for the scrub, one for the moisturizer)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

For the scrub, blend brown sugar, lime and honey together with a spoon until the mixture is consistent. Add a drop of flavored extract (vanilla or mint are good) to the mix (optional).

Use a toothbrush to apply the scrub to the lips. Spread the mix over the lips with light movements. Wash with warm water after 10 minutes.

Next step is to create a simple softening lip moisturizer with honey and olive oil. Add the 2 ingredients in a bowl and mix until completely blended. Apply the mix directly to the lips using fingers like a lip balm after the lip scrub and allow the lips absorb the mixture.

All Hair Mask Recipes are from Vina Teodoro, Spa Manager Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Portugal. Staying indoors with the air conditioning running or central heating on full blast can play havoc with your hair just as much as your skin. Follow these home remedies to show your mane some TLC.

Frizz-Reducing Hair Mask

Ingredients:
• 1 Avocado
• Olive Oil (1/4 Cup)
• 1 Lemon (juiced)

Steps:
• Mix all with an eggbeater until well blended
• Comb mixture through damp hair and let it set for 20 minutes
• Rinse with lukewarm water

Benefits of the Ingredients
• Avocado: Great source of vitamin E and good for treating dry hair
• Olive Oil: Strengthens hair, may tame frizz and reduce breakage

Hydrating Hair Mask

Ingredients:
• Natural Yogurt (1/4 Cup)
• Olive Oil (1/4 Cup)
• Honey (1 Tbsp)
• Lavender Oil (15 drops)

Steps:
• Mix all ingredients with an eggbeater until well blended
• Apply warm water to hair until it is totally damp
• Apply the mask and leave in for 15/20 minutes
• Rinse with lukewarm water

Benefits of the Ingredients:
• Yogurt: Adds protein to hair
• Olive Oil: Strengthens the hair
• Honey: Adds shine and softens the hair
• Lavender Oil: Helps with dandruff

Mask for Damaged Hair

Ingredients:
• Yogurt (1/4 Cup)
• Eggs (2)
• Coconut Oil (1/4 cup)
• Banana (1)
• Honey (1 Tbsp)

Steps:
• Place all the ingredients in a blender smooth and well-blended
• Apply on the hair and leave in for 15 minutes.
• Rinse out with lukewarm water.

Benefits of the Ingredients
• Eggs: Adds protein, the main component of hair
• Coconut Oil: Conditions hair
• Bananas: Promotes hair growth

Body Brushing
By: Bodina Qureshi, Spa Director, Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

A full-body exfoliation is the perfect pampering treatment to combat dry and dull skin leaving a beautiful glow – and the best part is you do not have to leave the comfort of your home to achieve this!

A combination of grated coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg with a sprinkle of salt makes for a beautiful body scrub with the perfect texture and an incredible scent. If you have some coconut oil hiding in your cupboards add some for extra moisture, but a little water will also create the perfect consistency. Nutmeg has long been used in herbal medicine as a treatment to sustain and promote skin appearance.

In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties decreasing the likelihood of infections and helping control sebum production. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and is a great addition to any combination with its bold flavor and scent.

Luxurious Vanilla Bath Bombs
By: Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Portugal

Ingredients:
• Baking Soda (8 oz)
• Citric Acid (4 oz)
• Cornstarch (4 oz)
• Epsom Salt (4 oz)
• Coconut Oil (2 Tbsp)
• Water (3/4 Tbsp)
• Vanilla Extract (2 Tbsp)
• Purple soap dry – This is any dry soap bar, shavings from the bar of soap should be used. Purple is the color suggested so that the bath bomb has a bright distinctive color. White soap shavings can also be used.

Directions:
• Mix the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salt with an eggbeater.
• In a separate bowl, mix the coconut oil, water, vanilla extract, and purple soap shavings with an eggbeater.
• When the two mixers are ready, add the second one to the first mix slowly and always mixing with a spoon.
• Place the mix in cupcake molds.
• Chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• Take a finished mold and add to your bath water for a soothing soak.

destination wedding in jamaica
Weddings by Palladium
Antler Luggage
Palladium Weddings
Destination I Do Podcast
destination wedding in jamaica
Save on hotel bookings
person laying by pool
dark haired woman in bright green patterned bridesmaid dress

Find a Vendor

Access our list of vendors based on your destination location.